AWOD Conducts Training at
Woodhull School
A group of 15 Huntington High School students who are A World of Difference club peer trainers and their faculty advisors recently visited Woodhull Intermediate School to work with dozens of fifth graders, exploring their misconceptions, biases and differences, as well as looking at themselves.
The teenagers traveled the short distance to Woodhull with advisors Suzie Biagi and Camille DeCanio. Working with a dozen teams of fifth graders, the AWOD members utilized a variety of activities to get the youngsters focused on the task at hand.
"Many soon realized that we are more the same than different and seeing their fellow classmates 'cross the line' enlightened and educated many about the similarities, both positive and stressful that we all encounter," Mrs. Biagi said.
Small group graffiti boards with "trigger statements" were used to examine what being a "true friend" means and to explore options when being merely "bystander" is not enough. The session's grand finale featured "confessions of an AWOD," where the high school trainers shared a brief personal story, one-by-one about something they wish they had done differently when they were in intermediate school.
A follow-up training visit is planned for early next fall with the same group of Woodhull students, who will be in sixth grade by then. "We can barely wait," Mrs. Biagi said.